Loco for Lorca

I was addicted before I went in and I’m not even a regular coffee drinker. The smell of the fresh ground stuff hit my nose and my addiction was turning into a full-fledged problem. The baked goods in the case were tempting too, but I was at Lorca for another reason.

Churros. Specifically, homemade churros.

This quaint, and dare I say, “cute” coffee shop in Downtown Stamford has a neon sign behind the counter that tells you what they’re all about “coffee & churros.” Yes, folks, the popular festival and street vendor treat is back!

The Spanish style, deep-fried doughnut-like snack is something Lorca does very, very well, and it’s no surprise (Lorca’s owner, Leyla, learned how to make churros in Seville, Spain). I must warn you though, once you try them, you will be making multiple trips, possibly sneaking off on extended lunch breaks and I’ll most likely be sipping coffee and chowing down on churros at the table right next to you.

Even though the menu is simple and straightforward, there is a tough decision to make; do you order three, six, or 10 churros? I ended up splitting a 10 piece with someone and we both agreed that it was a mistake. A mistake because we could have eaten 10 each!

Nearly put my face in there like a horse with a feed bag.

Lorca’s churros were better than any I’ve had in a long time. They were cooked through, but not too crispy. They were crispy, yet still had some chewiness under the crispiness. Pure sugared perfection. But wait! There’s more! You also have a dipping sauce choice to make. The three sauces are dark chocolate, Mexican chocolate spiced with cinnamon and chili powder, and if you’re like me and love the sweet stuff, dulce de leche. Another reviewer of Lorca said she took a sip of the Dulce de leche, I’m not ashamed to admit I actually drank the rest of mine.

Mmm…

Left to right, the sauces: Dark chocolate, Dulce de leche, Mexican chocolate.

Dipping is so much fun!

Proof! Totally took a Dulce de leche shot!

Let’s go back to the first word in the aforementioned neon sign, “coffee.” This may be a shock to some of you, but I am not an avid coffee drinker. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE coffee, I just find I don’t need it to stay awake. But I do like really good, strong coffee made the right way, and Lorca definitely delivers. Again, no shock given that Leyla also worked in a coffee shop to learn the nuances of brewing quality coffee. Even if you didn’t know that info going in, you would realize you’re about to get a great cup of whatever you choose once you lay eyes on that cappuccino machine and when you see coffee being drip brewed minus the maker.

Drip brewers!

You know this machine is producing some high quality drinks.

Your drink choices are coffee (from Handsome Coffee Roasters), lattes, cappuccino, espresso, hot chocolate, Americano, tea, Mexican soda, or a cortado. I went with the cortado which is espresso and warm milk, and of course, the cool design on the foam.

Other accompaniments to go with your warm or iced beverage at Lorca are house made quiches, alfajores, and St. James cake, pastries from Norwalk’s Wave Hill Breads, and salads and sandwiches from Station Eats. Eventually I’ll get around to trying the other stuff after about a half dozen more times of ordering churros.

A cortado

And again with its pal, the churro 🙂

Lorca is more than just churros!

Lorca is proof that a simple idea like coffee and churros can work if perfected. I craved churros a day after my visit, I’m craving them right now, and I will be craving them again tomorrow.